Crazy Hat Cleaning Situation

[Viper Man]

Why the bump? The guy's hat was pissed on six months ago, I would hope he would have gotten it cleaned by now.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Maybe it was persistent pee?

 

[T Rick]

Thanks GT, soon as this 2 year downturn in the housing industry goes just a little more north I'll be getting me a VS custom!! They look sweet!
and gee Wally, Ditto on the beav.
And finally, on topic, Sometimes you can cure leaks by starting new ones near the source.I believe there is a product from the year 1911 that could bring "closure" to this whole leaking problem.

Okay, I know this was an older post, but I just had to chime in with the mention of the product from 1911. I'll just say I'm a huge fan of it also, and though it is generally only for use in extreme situations, it has the ability to solve all sorts of problems when properly used. And it would certainly be tempting in the case above (though in reality, would probably be a bit "overkill").

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

Vomit on his stetson please help

Well, yesterday life happened. Vomit ended up on my fathers beloved stetson and we need any suggestions to get rid of the stains. We have patted the spots with rubbing alcohol but to no avail. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

Bump

 

[facade]

Bump

My personal method of cleaning hats is to wear them in a good rain storm, for other ideas try the thread below.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?60381-Cleaning-spots-stains-and-soiling-from-felt-hats

 

[Rick Blaine]

White gas

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

White gas

I have been reading that but I didn't know how good my chances are of it actually working. Do you think the stains will actually come out?

 

[fedoralover]

Send it to a professional hatter and they will give it a Naptha bath. Good chance it will come out.

fedoralover

 

[Fed in a Fedora]

Vomit is acidic. Unless, you are sure that you have stabilized it, I suggest that you should take the plunge and clean it now.

 

[moehawk]

I agree with Fed. A naptha or white gas bath may remove the stains from the vomit,but leaving the barf on the felt might eat away at it or fade the color.

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

I agree with Fed. A naptha or white gas bath may remove the stains from the vomit,but leaving the barf on the felt might eat away at it or fade the color.

Yeah I removed the the vomit and hit it with our steam cleaning machine that we use on stairs and turned down the pressure and temperature to make sure it was clean. Now the spot is just a little dark.

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

I agree with Fed. A naptha or white gas bath may remove the stains from the vomit,but leaving the barf on the felt might eat away at it or fade the color.

I know naphtha is the main ingredient in the white gas but is one better than the other or about the same?

 

[pbekkerh]

Start with water/steam, that'll take the water soluble stuff. Naphta will only dissolve oil/grease.

 

[moehawk]

I have only used naptha in the form of Ronsonol lighter fluid to spot clean or pre-treat spots. I have used white gas, in the form of Coleman camp stove fuel twice to clean whole hats and have found it to work very well. I have also used denatured alcohol to give a hat a bath with good results as well. I think the white gas worked better, but while both are flammable and potentially dangerous, I think the alcohol might be a little less explosive. Use either one with caution preferably outdoors.

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

I have only used naptha in the form of Ronsonol lighter fluid to spot clean or pre-treat spots. I have used white gas, in the form of Coleman camp stove fuel twice to clean whole hats and have found it to work very well. I have also used denatured alcohol to give a hat a bath with good results as well. I think the white gas worked better, but while both are flammable and potentially dangerous, I think the alcohol might be a little less explosive. Use either one with caution preferably outdoors.

When you use the Coleman fuel to clean whole hats how long do you dunk in in the solution? Also I can leave the leather band inside but take out the liner or leave both?

 

[moehawk]

I used a little of the fuel to pre-treat the greasy spots on the felt, then folded the sweatband out and masked it as best I could with plastic wrap and masking tape. Then I put fuel into 2 1 qt. stainless steel water bottles(outdoors away from sources of ignition of course) and heated a pot of water on the stove. I carried the pot outside and put the bottles in to heat them. I then put the hat in a big steel mixing bowl (big enough for the whole hat) and slowly poured warmed fuel through the liner and crown, being careful to avoid the sweatband. When the first bottlevwas poured through, I used the second on the brim, then swirled the crown and brim through the fuel in the bowl. I strained what fuel was left through a coffee filter and repeated the process. I hung the hat out for about an hour to dry completely. Worked very well.

 

[Cat_in_the_hat]

I used a little of the fuel to pre-treat the greasy spots on the felt, then folded the sweatband out and masked it as best I could with plastic wrap and masking tape. Then I put fuel into 2 1 qt. stainless steel water bottles(outdoors away from sources of ignition of course) and heated a pot of water on the stove. I carried the pot outside and put the bottles in to heat them. I then put the hat in a big steel mixing bowl (big enough for the whole hat) and slowly poured warmed fuel through the liner and crown, being careful to avoid the sweatband. When the first bottlevwas poured through, I used the second on the brim, then swirled the crown and brim through the fuel in the bowl. I strained what fuel was left through a coffee filter and repeated the process. I hung the hat out for about an hour to dry completely. Worked very well.

I appreciate the help. I really hope this works. I just don't know since vomit isn't really grease I guess.

 

[moehawk]

You're welcome. This process is basically dry-cleaning so it may work on other types of stains than just grease. Good luck!

 

[viclip]

When using alcohol on hats, bear in mind that it dissolves shellac, the latter being what hatters apply in varying degrees to impart stiffness to the felt. Thus alcohol immersion my have unintended consequences esp. dealing with stiff hats such as westerns & bowlers.